Panhandle People: Lubbock Christian names Amarilloans to honors lists

Posted: Tuesday, June 15, 2004

Students from Amarillo have been named to the dean's and president's lists at Lubbock Christian University for the spring 2004 semester.

Students named to the dean's list are Nick Buccola, Garrett Johnson, Audra Moore and Keesha Russell. To make the dean's list, a student must take a minimum of 12 semester hours and achieve a 3.5 grade-point average or better for the semester.

Students named to the president's list are Deanna Bird, Melissa Prichard, Stacy Simpson and Malissa Stimson. To make the president's list, a student must take a minimum of 12 semester hours and achieve a 4.0-grade point average or better for the semester.

Aubre Mjolhus of Amarillo was one of 178 graduates to receive diplomas May 8 during commencement exercises at Bryan College in Dayton, Tenn.

Mjolhus, the daughter of Knut A. and Mary Mjolhus of Amarillo, received a bachelor of science degree in biology with highest honors.

Angelo State University in San Angelo conferred degrees upon 508 students at commencement exercises May 15.

Ashlie Kareen White of Amarillo received a bachelor of business administration degree and Victoria Falon Wirtz of Amarillo received an associate in applied science degree.

Stacie L. Bennett graduated May 15 from Texas A&M University in College Station. She received a bachelor of science degree in community health.

Bennett was active as a Fish Camp Counselor and a member of Kappa Delta sorority. She is the daughter of Neal and Gale Bennett of Panhandle.

Beau Devin Unruh graduated summa cum laude May 14 from Texas State University in San Marcos with a bachelor of arts degree.

He was a member of Kappa Tau Alpha and Golden Key national honor societies at TSU. Unruh is a 1998 graduate of Amarillo High School and a 2001 graduate of Amarillo College.

Karen Beth O'Dell of Amarillo was one of more than 1,200 graduates who earned degrees May 8 at spring commencement exercises at Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, Calif. She received a bachelor of arts degree in English and music.

Eighteen members of the spring 2004 graduating class of Tarleton State University in Stephenville were honored in May as Departmental Outstanding Graduates during ceremonies.

Among them were Kara Lynn Howard of Amarillo and Tom E. Wendal of Fritch, who were both selected from the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences.

Howard was honored by the University's Department of Agribusiness, Agronomy, Horticulture and Range Management. Wendel was honored by the Department of Animal Sciences.

Cameron Joseph Buckner graduated magna cum laude May 15 from Texas Tech University in Lubbock with degrees in computer science and philosophy and a minor in English. He graduated with highest honors from the Honors College.

At Texas Tech, Buckner was awarded the Presidential Scholarship, the Jerry B. Fox Memorial Scholarship and the Computer Science Excellence in Education Scholarship.

In the fall, Buckner will continue his studies at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind., in the doctoral program with a full scholarship and teaching stipend.

This summer, he will teach computer classes to adults and students in Savu Savu, Fiji.

Clay W. Whittington of Silverton received a bachelor of business administration degree in economics and finance May 1 at the Wayland Baptist University commencement ceremony. He also made the dean's list for the spring 2004 semester.

Whittington is the son of Gail and Gerald Smith and a graduate of Silverton High School.

Shauna Kingery Cheek of Silverton was one of 539 students who participated in May 14 commencement exercises at South Plains College in Levelland. She received an associate of applied science degree in respiratory care with honors.

Cheek is the daughter of Kathy and Anthony Kingery, the granddaughter of Ted and Lavern Kingery and a graduate of Silverton High School.

Keisha Cornelius of Amarillo was one of 659 graduates who received degrees during May 15 commencement exercises at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

She received a bachelor of arts degree from the university's College of Arts and Humanities.

Deborah Dennis, formerly of Panhandle, graduated May 15 with a master's degree in public administration from the State University of New York in Binghamton, N.Y.

Dennis was the recipient of the Outstanding Scholarship Award and the Student Practitioner's Award for Excellence in Academic and Professional Performance and graduated with a 4.0 grade-point average.

The 1983 Panhandle High School graduate is the daughter of Sharon and Tom Reynolds of Panhandle and the granddaughter of Homer Reynolds of Amarillo.

Dennis is economic development coordinator and Head Start Family Literacy coordinator at Opportunities For Chenango Inc. in Norwich, N.Y. She also is an instructor at Cornell University's Family Development Credential Program.

Jay Robert Holmes of Amarillo earned a business administration degree from Hastings College in Hastings, Neb., on May 15.

Holmes is the son of Ronald and Kim Holmes of Amarillo.

Beau Burkett graduated from Texas State University in San Marcos on May 15. He received a bachelor of business administration degree in business management.

He graduated cum laude. He was on the dean's list all four years, and was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honor Society and Phi Eta Sigma Academic Fraternity.

He also founded and managed his own outdoor advertising company, Burkett Media, LP., during his college career. He owns and operates numberous outdoor billboard displays in and around San Antonio, Killeen and Corpus Christi.

He plans to expand advertising operations in Central Texas.

He will pursue a master of business administration degree in entrepreneurship in the fall at Austin.

He is a 2000 graduate of Amarillo High School and is the son of Debby and Randy Burkett.

Zachary Hall of Amarillo has been named a United States National Collegiate Award winner in marketing.

He is a student at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and was nominated for the award by Dr. Leon Dube.

Hall is the son of Jim and Vera Hall of Perryton.

Gary P. Moore received a bachelor of arts degree from Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind., on May 16.

He majored in religion. He is the son of Gary and Paula Moore of Amarillo.

Evan James Belcher of Amarillo graduated from Texas A&M University in College Station with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering.

The Panhandle People column runs on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Look for college-related news on Tuesdays and military and civic-related news on Wednesdays. Information comes from press releases submitted by organizations and individuals.

Written information should be delivered to the third floor of the Globe-News offices at 10th Avenue and Van Buren Street, mailed to Jackie Klein, Amarillo Globe-News, P.O. Box 2091, Amarillo, TX 79166-0001, or e-mailed to jackie.klein@amarillo.com.